April 16 - National High Five Day

Happy National High Five Day! Each year on the third Thursday in April, we observe today. This is a fun day where you can “high five” anyone and everyone that you see. 

Folklore fills the hallowed halls of sports stadiums concerning the origins of the high five. From the basketball to the volleyball courts and baseball stadiums, the sports metaphor has been well worn on this topic. 

The two most well-known claims take place in less than a two-year time span. 

During the last 1977 regular season Dodgers’ game, African-American Major League Baseball manager for the Houston Astros Johnnie b. "Dusty" Baker hit the home run that made the team the first in history to have four players with at least thirty regular-season home runs each.   

As Baker rounded third and headed home, African-American Major League Baseball player  for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics Glenn Burke waited at home plate to congratulate him.  

In a moment that is Dodgers history but never televised, Burke greeted his teammate by raising his hand, and they slapped hands in a victorious high five. 

On the Louisville Cardinals basketball court during the 1978-79 season, the team switched up their regular low-fives. 

This was thanks to African-American Head Coach of the Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers Men's Basketball program Wiley Brown and African-American professional basketball player Derek Smith. 

Out of all the triumphant sports gestures, such as the fist bump, fanny slap, fist pump,  end zone dance, and chest bump, the high five stands in a class all its own. 

However, with a certain virus going around, it's probably a good idea to just high five yourself. Today, leave others hangin'. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Celebrate with a high five! See if you can find all the fives in the High Five hidden picture by visiting the website below.

https://mlfjqdsf5ptg.i.optimole.com/q2nBJDA-Ki-_ndHN/w:auto/h:auto/q:69/https://n7jmr7muhj-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Hi-Five-hidden-picture.png 

Once you’ve tried, check out the answer key by also visiting the website below.

https://mlfjqdsf5ptg.i.optimole.com/q2nBJDA-ll5TfO8v/w:auto/h:auto/q:69/https://n7jmr7muhj-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Hi-Five-hidden-picture-key.png 

If you’re looking for ways to get children involved in sports, check out Project Play which encourages sports activities for all. 

According to National Day Calendar®, that’s a high five in their books! 

http://youthreport.projectplay.us 

Use #NationalHighFiveDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

In 2002, college students at the University of Virginia, American comedy writer, producer, novelist and podcaster Conor Lastowka (San Diego, CA), American mathematician Sam Miotke (Corvallis, OR) and American musical artist Wynn Walent (New York, NY) together created National High Five Day. 

#NationalHighFiveDay 

@UniversityofVirginia 

@AspenInstSports 

@clastowka 

@nichecinema 

DATES 

April 18, 2021 
April 21, 2022 
April 20, 2023 
April 18, 2024 
April 17, 2025 
April 16, 2026 
April 15, 2027 
April 20, 2028 
April 19, 2029